Hotels in Kamakura

Kamakura: Shogunate Capital on Sagami Bay

Kamakura served as Japan's political center from 1185 to 1333, when the Minamoto clan established the first shogunate here, 50 km south of Tokyo on Sagami Bay. The 13.35-meter bronze Great Buddha at Kotoku-in, cast in 1252, remains the city's most-visited monument. Nineteen Zen temples and five Shinto shrines occupy the forested valleys between the hills — including Engaku-ji (1282) at the north end of Kita-Kamakura station and Hase-dera, which houses an 11-faced wooden Kannon statue carved in the 8th century.

Where to Stay

Hotels concentrate near Kamakura Station and along the Enoden line, the single-track railway that links the town to Enoshima island, 10 km to the west. The Komachi-dori shopping street runs directly from the station toward Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, making the central area the most convenient base. Ryokan-style guesthouses also operate in Kita-Kamakura, within walking distance of the temple trail.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station reaches Kamakura in 56 minutes.
• Crowds: Cherry blossom season (late March) and Golden Week (late April–early May) draw peak crowds; weekday visits in autumn are quieter.
• Temple pass: The Kamakura Free Kippu day pass covers round-trip rail and the Enoden line.